WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, the Internet Safety Technical Task Force publicly released its report of findings and recommendations for improving online child safety, especially on social networking sites. The Task Force, originally proposed as part of an agreement between MySpace and 49 state Attorneys General, presented its final report to the AGs on December 31st. Adam Thierer, Senior Fellow at The Progress & Freedom Foundation and member of the Task Force, is releasing an extended version of his statement from the report.

"It has been a privilege to serve on the Internet Safety Technical Task Force," states Thierer. "The work of the Task Force and the final report represent a major step forward in the discussion of online child protection. The Task Force concluded that there was no silver-bullet technical solution to online child safety concerns. Moreover, reliance on mandatory age verification could actually leave our children less protected online. Instead, a multi-layered approach encompassing education, empowerment and enforcement would be a more effective method of keeping kids safe."